Time signaling apparatus



TIME SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1943 I 43 I C]1ar]es Chapman BY v ' ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE TIME SIGNALING APPARATUS Charles E. Chapman, Chicago, 111.

Application January 18, 1943, Serial No. 472,765

2 Claims.

My invention relates to time clocks, and more particularly to improvements or developments thereof for'purposes of special control, and one object is to provide an attachment which exercises a, controlling action at given times.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment which automatically induces the ringing of a bell or the operation of an indicator at given times and for a suitable period.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in co-operation with the hour spindle of the clock to function at desired hours, so that the control may be automatically exercised at such hours.

An additional object of the invention is to utilize the alarm or strike movement of the clock to furnish the power for the operation of the control.

An important object of the invention is to employ parts which are few and exceedingly simple in the construction of the novel attachment.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an exposed view of the clock movement showing the novel attachment;

Figure 2 is a face view of the clock dial, showing so much of the attachment as is visible in front thereof; and

Figure 3 man enlarged section of the attachment taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing, ill shows the frame of a typical alarm or strike clock movement, ll indicating the time gear and I2 the alarm or strike gear. A standard dial is shown at it, and the hands thereof at it and ii.

The indicated type of clock movement usually carries a stop disc It on the alarm or strike gear shaft II, a detent l8 operating in conjunction with the stop disc to determine the duration of the alarm or strike.

The regular tripper or release device for the alarm or strike is located within the movement frame. but for the present purpose it is duplicated in front by a lever is pivoted on a spindle 20 and ordinarily restingon a stop pin 2!. Thus, a slight lift of the lever II is intended to set oil the alarm or strike In order that the alarm or strike mechanism may exercise the novel control, I mount a ratchetcam 22 on the spindle ll of the gear l2; Oppo site the periphery of this cam is an arm 23 pivoted at 24 in the frame and leaning asainst a conventional electric push button 25. Wires 28 from this button lead to an alarm or time bell 21 or any other sounding or indicating medium. It is thus apparent that the rotation of the cam 22 when the alarm or strike assembly is released will operate to push the arm 23 against the button for a duration corresponding to a length of cam tooth, it being understood that this phase of the timing may be changed or regulated in accordance with requirements.

In order that the control may be exercised at certain desired times, I employ the hour spindle 28 of the clock as a prime mover. Thus, I mount a threaded sleeve 28a on the hour spindle with a snug fit and place a series of lever cams 29 in spaced succession on the sleeve, securing the cams in semi-tight frictional relation by means of intermediate washers 30 and a frontal nut 3|. It is thus possible to rotate the lever cams 29 individually with ones finger to set them at desired points.

As indicated in Figure 1, the lever cams 29 are curvedly designed to gradually trip a frontal stem 32 of the release lever l9 asthey move in the clockwise direction and engage the stem at predetermined intervals, setting oil the alarm or strike movement to operate the bell or indicator signal at the set times. A slot 33 is made in the dial i3 to permit the forward passage of the stem 32; and a backing disc 34 is shown mounted behind the lever cams 29 to cover the center opening |3a in the dial.

In order to set the lever cams 29 for the operation of the signal at certain hours, the hour hand is used as a guide. Thus, it is plac d to point upwardlyin line with the stem 32and each lever cam i set back from the hour hand a distance corresponding to the distance the hour hand must travel to reach the desired signaling time. illustrate, if a signal is desired at6 o'clock, the

hour hand is set at 12 and the rearmost lever camset opposite the 6:00 marking on the dial. Thus, when the-hour hand reaches 6:00, the lever cam will meet and trip the stem 32. If a signal is also desired three hours later-at 9 00-the hour hand is set at 12, as before, and the lever cam second from the rear is swung to the 3:00 marking on the dial. Thus, when the hour hand reaches 9:00, the lever cam will meet and trip the stem '32. The third and fourth lever cams are set in the same manner it further signaling times are required or specified. The hour hand is then set to the right running time, and the clock may be considered as set for signaling purposes until see fit to alter the signaling settings.

It will be evident from the above description that I have provided a simple and compact attachment for the stated purpose. Thus, the control utilizes the conventional alarm or strike movement by adding only one part-the ratchet cam 22 on the spindle iI--which may be at a point within the movement frame or in back thereof. Further, the push button arrangement is easily fitted into the end of the movement frame. Further, the clock dial need not be disturbed other than to make the small slot 33 for bringing the stem 32 to a point in front of the dial, the latter otherwise remaining the same. Further, it is only necessary to fit the hour spindle 28 with a simple, threaded sleeve to receive and firmly dispose the group of lever cams and the disc 34, this group of parts because of its external location causing no interference with the clock movement, Further, it is evident that the control is made exceedingly handy and direct by means of the frontally located lever cams 2!. which are easily reached and set or changed to any desired timing positions as stated. Finally, it is evident that by means of the novel attachment practically any clock can be made into a time clock.

While I have described the improved clock attachment along specific lines, various minor some future time when the establishment may changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I desire to consider all such changes and refinements as coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a clock having a strike or alarm gearing and a control to set the same off; of an extension of the control to a point in front of the clock dial, and means mounted on the hour spindle to actuate the extension, said means comprising a threaded sleeve mounted fast onthe hour spindle, a series of radial lever cams perforated at their inner ends for mounting on the sleeve in longitudinal succession, and spacer and terminal nuts threaded on the sleeve in relation to the lever cams to clamp them for semi-tight rotary adjustment, the outer ends of the lever cams serving to actuate the extension.

2. The combination with a clock having a dial, a strike or alarm gearing, and a control to set the latter oif; of a stem extended from the control through an aperture made in the dial, and a series of radial lever cams mounted in longitudinal succession along the hour spindle in front of the dial and secured for semi-tight adjustment around the same, the outer ends of the lever cams serving to actuate said stem.

CHARLES E. CHAPMAN. 

